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Roseville Yard

Union Pacificís massive
classification yard, Roseville Yard, is located about one mile south of the
Placer County Fairgrounds. There is close public street access around most
of the 5-mile long railroad yard. Originally owned by Central Pacific and
then Southern Pacific, Roseville Yard was completely rebuilt beginning in 1997
by its latest owner, Union Pacific. The rebuilt and reorganized yard
reopened on May 26, 1999. Roseville Yard is UPís "hub"
classification yard in the West. Roseville Yard operations include a hump
yard, locomotive repair and service facility, arrival yard, departure yard, city
yard (local trains) and regional Maintenance of Way supply and equipment
facility.

Trains depart and arrive at Roseville from Northern California and the Pacific
Northwest (Valley Subdivision main line); Californiaís Central Valley (Fresno
Subdivision main line); the Bay Area (Martinez Subdivision main line); and the
East (Donner Pass main lines and the Feather River Canyon Subdivision main
line). Amtrak passenger trains and Amtrak-California "Capitols"
commuter trains also pass through Roseville Yard and they stop at the Roseville
Amtrak Station. There is much to learn about railroad operations and much
to photograph and/or videotape at UPís Roseville Yard!

Are you a radio scanner-equipped
railfan?
Here is a list of Roseville Yard radio frequencies so you can hear the
action, too:

The brick structure at the west end of Roseville's diesel shop facility is part of the two original steam locomotive roundhouses.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.West_Diesel_Shop.jpg 65764 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This locomotive is one of the former SP GP38-2 locomotives equipped for snow removal on Donner Pass. Teamed with UP 575, an SP-built MOW flanger plow is coupled behind the units.
UP 572's icicle antlers have been raised into position to break the long and heavy icicles that hang down from the Donner Pass tunnel portals.
Although it was warm and sunny in Roseville, UP 572 is on-call and ready to depart for Donner Pass where it can snow any day of the year.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.UP572_A.jpg 68507 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This GP38-2 is equipped for RCL (Remote Control Locomotive) operation and was photographed outside the Search building where locomotive technicians search, locate, and repair electrical problems. Search is located near the west end of the diesel locomotive shop.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.UP_809.jpg 70592 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

The new UP paint scheme includes the UP wings emblem on the nose. UP 600's icicle antlers have been folded down. When the snow season ends, the specially equipped GP38-2s work assignments in the Roseville region so that they remain close to Roseville Yard.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.UP_600_C.jpg 56715 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This photograph shows the awning that protects the inertial filter screen from snow, ice, and debris while the locomotive is working in snow removal service. The awning also helps to keep the rear cab door from being blocked by snow and ice.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.UP_600_B.jpg 47670 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

Tied down outside the east end of the Roseville diesel shop, this UP SD60 was waiting for a hostler to move the unit inside the shop for inspection and service.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.UP_2195.jpg 45833 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

Another former SP GP38-2 equipped for snow removal service on Donner Pass, UP 600 has been repainted into UP's new paint scheme. It was photographed with SSW 7647 on the City Yard lead.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.UP_600_A.jpg 58837 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This GP40-2 locomotive has not been patched with a new UP road number. It was assigned this day to the City Yard Switcher with UP 600. The City Yard is located on the south side of Roseville Yard and is the yard facility where freight cars are assembled into local trains.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.SSW_7647.jpg 66551 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This SP GP40M-2 was photographed just outside the east end of Roseville's diesel shop. Most of the former SP, SSW, and DRGW locomotives UP inherited when UP purchased SP have been repainted into UP's locomotive paint scheme, or "patched" with a UP road number.
It's somewhat rare now to see a SP, SSW, or DRGW locomotive without a UP patched road number.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.SP_7119.jpg 44945 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This is a view from across the yard of the south side of Roseville's large diesel shop facility.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.South_Side_Shop.jpg 48043 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

Based at Roseville Yard, SP's rotary snow plows are still on-call for severe snow removal duty on Donner Pass. SP rebuilt the rotaries to convert them from steam power to electric power.
Each rotary is coupled to a modified F7B unit that generates the electricity to power the rotaries four traction motors set up to turn the rotary's shaft.
Both the rotary and F7B do not have powered axles. When called to duty, four to six 6-axle locomotives are placed between two rotary sets with one rotary facing east and the other west so that the rotary consist does not require turning while at work on Donner Pass.
The rotaries have often sat unused for several years at a time when snow conditions on the Pass are not severe enough to use the rotaries. However, they are maintained in ready condition.
This rotary was photographed near the east end of the diesel locomotive shop.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.Rotary_Plow.jpg 64728 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This switch on the lead to the City Yard can be activated by remote control. Solar power cells power the turnout's mechanism.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.Remote_Switch.jpg 54434 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

Union Pacific has placed remote control warning signs around the perimeter of yards and industrial areas wherever remote control locomotives are in use.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.Remote_Sign.jpg 70364 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

Former Burlington Northern 7228 is a lease locomotive currently leased to Union Pacific to help eliminate a locomotive shortage during a recovering economy.
This SD40-2 was equipped to operate with, and receive fuel from, BN's diesel fuel tenders (modified tank car placed between a set of locomotives).
BN's 7200 class SD40-2s were assigned to Alliance, Nebraska and worked as rear helpers in sets of four plus one fuel tender with a week's worth of fuel for the locomotives.
These special helper consists operated in the Powder River Basin (Wyoming) where they helped move long, heavy unit coal trains until they were replaced by unmanned DPU (Distributed Power Units) locomotives operated by remote control from the lead locomotive.
HLCX 7228 was photographed at Roseville's fuel and sand service tracks.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.HLCX_7228.jpg 69445 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This is a view of the east end of Roseville's diesel shop facility. Built by Southern Pacific during the 1950s for SP's growing fleet of diesel locomotives, the big shop is still in use today by Union Pacific.
An ex-SP SD40M-2 is tied down partially inside the doorway of one of the two drop pit tracks inside the shop.
Photo by by David DeRouen - April 2004.East_Diesel_Shop.jpg 66067 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

2003 Roseville Yard Photos

UPY 803 and UPY 841 are EMD SD38-2 (2,000 hp) heavy switchers. Two such locomotives are set up for low speed operations for slowly pushing long cuts of freight cars over the hump at the classification yard. The locomotives are operated by remote control.
Photo by Paul W. DeRouenHump_Units.jpg 59184 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This locomotive has the engine hood of an SD40-2. It was rebuilt as a SD38-2 for heavy switcher hump operations.
Photo by Paul W. DeRouenUPY_841a.jpg 62997 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This unit is waiting on the service inbound tracks before a hostler moves it and other locomotive consists through the wash shed and the service tracks. UP 5803 is a GE C44CCTE (4,400 hp). It has been painted in UP's latest "wings" paint scheme.
Photo by Paul W. DeRouenUP_5803.jpg 69995 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

Locomotives first roll through the wash shed before entering the service tracks area where they are inspected, fueled, and loaded with traction sand.
Photo by Paul W. DeRouenWash_Shed.jpg 58506 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

UP stores its orange ex-SP snow flangers near the service tracks. A flanger is pulled by two UP GP38-2 locomotives equipped for snow fighting service for Donner Pass (See photos of UP 600) snow removal duty. The flanger has a large snow plow under its frame that removes snow from between the rails.
Photo by Paul W. DeRouenSP_Flangers.jpg 55324 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

UP removed SP's old sanding facility silos and conveyors when it rebuilt Roseville Yard. This photos is of the new single sanding silo at the service tracks. The hopper cart rolls above the locomotives to reload the sanding hoses used to fill each locomotive's front and rear traction sand tank.
Photo by Paul W. DeRouenSand_Tower.jpg 60690 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

This GP38-2 (2,000 hp) is equipped for Donner Pass snow fighting service. The special equipment includes icicle "antlers" (breaker bars), all-weather windows, screen over the windshield, horn heater, and snow shield over the inertial air intake grilles. SP also equipped these units with trucks (wheelsets) from older 4-axle locomotives to increase the number of brake shoes. During the summer months, the snow fighting units work local train assignments out of Roseville Yard.
Photo by Paul W. DeRouenUP_600.jpg 78023 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

The engine hood doors are open so personnel can inspect the engine. UP 686 is an EMD GP38-2 and is equipped for remote control operations.
Photo by Paul W. DeRouenUP_686.jpg 63943 bytes - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

Previous Roseville Yard Photos

Union Pacific's new hump facility at Roseville Yard. An electronic indicator
board at the top of the hump displays for the pin puller how many cars to
cut and in what order. In these photos, a tank car is shoved up the hump
and then it is uncoupled and sent over the hump toward the Classification
Yard. The speed of the car's decent is controlled by computer. The car's
wheels are compressed as it rolls over speed retarders that slow the car as
it moves toward its correct classification track. David Epling photos.

SP era. The diesel shop (ramp) at Roseville Yard was built in the 1950s for
SP's growing fleet of diesel locomotives. The shop performs minor and major
repairs and FRA mandatory inspections. The first photo shows locomotives
outside the east end of the ramp and the other photos are of the north side
of the structure. The west end of the ramp includes a partial brick exterior
wall of the steam roundhouse that was located there.

SP era. Four photographs of the service tracks located west of the ramp.
Locomotives are fueled and sanded at this location and maintenance personnel
also perform minor inspections.

Another view of the east end of the diesel ramp and a photograph of a sign
erected
by Union Pacific after rebuilding the fuel and sanding service tracks
facility. A view
of the south end of UP's new "Command Center". A photograph of new "easy
pull" turnout throw levers installed when the yard was rebuilt by UP.

A photograph of the south side of the ramp facilities. The last SP
locomotive still painted in the paint scheme of the failed ATSF-SP merger of
1986 is tied down outside the shops. The Folsom Turn is moving eastward in reverse from
Roseville Yard to a large Louisiana-Pacific lumber mill along the # 1 Main Track
(Donner Pass Route) at Rocklin. Several locomotives are tied down east of the east end of
the ramp shop facilities. These retired locomotives are used for spare parts
to keep other locomotives in-service. The only caboose assigned to Roseville Yard is a
former SP Police caboose used by the Folsom Turn during its long reverse move from Roseville
Yard to Rocklin.